Weekly Outage
Every Tuesday morning (Pacific time) we begin a 3 day data distribution outage to focus on science processing and development plus any needed systems maintenance. The upload/download servers will be offline during this time. The web site (including the forums) will only be offline during the database maintenance and backup portion of the outage. 20 Jul 2010 16:56:05 UTC

I think part of the issue may be that some of the files being processed are so large that it takes several days to complete. While it is running nothing more will download. When it is done it may happen during the three day down time and so can not upload and then download more files. So saying get a 10 day supply does not work in this less than perfect world. This is what has happened to me several times at least and maybe to others. It might be helpful if the software could see that X percent of the job is done and download according to work time remaining rather than the total processing time on our computers.

[b]What interesting findings have resulted from SETI@Home so far...?[/b]

I would appreciate hearing about number of potential 'hits' of interest, other astronomical phenomenon detected, and insights for clarifying overall SETI efforts (Including the Allen array) resulting from this work to date.

Matt, et all, I have been a loyal supporter of SETI for many years, even promoting it on my radio show when I had it in Los Angeles. But I have come to the point, like others expressed here, that the three day down time is not working. It is becoming a public relations nightmare, and given this project relies nearly entirely on volunteers it could have a serious impact on not only the work trying to be done but the moral of everyone involved, up to and including the slow decline of support. Remember, we all pay in some way for the work being done, through our electric bills to the time we spend on line reviewing progress and blogs.

From a software and engineering point of view it may make perfect sense to have extended down time, but from a PR and moral of the supporters’ point of view it is quickly becoming a disaster.

I have always been of the opinion that such comments are not worth making unless there is a suggestion as to how to improve. So here are mine.

First, hire a full time fundraiser/communications director to go after govt., corp., and private funding. If they are good at their job they will bring in far more then what they cost.

Second, come up with a plan that addresses current and future needs which will keep the programs up and running full time. Work with the fundraiser to balance projected income with the wish list from project leaders.

Third, communicate via bi-weekly electronic newsletters what is going on in various programs, ie: fundraising, Technical improvements, events such as conferences where people can go and hear someone from the SETI and other projects. And not least of all, any work processed that shows some promise regarding the purpose of the project.

Having done this professionally for many companies over the years I can promise you a measurable change in financial, public and private support.

My moral is fine thank you, I get lots of work and keep busy through the downtime. Reading the Forums and the home page gives me a general idea of what the boys are up to, and the problems they face. It also shows me lots of people asking for more work, and no sign of mass exodus of volunteers.

I also see they are begging for a few strips of RAM, maybe $100 worth. Hiring a full time PR person seems very low on the "do do list" under the present circumstances.

[b]What interesting findings have resulted from SETI@Home so far...?[/b]

I would appreciate hearing about number of potential 'hits' of interest, other astronomical phenomenon detected, and insights for clarifying overall SETI efforts (Including the Allen array) resulting from this work to date.

Thanks for informing the community.

SETI@Home does not have access to the Allen Telescope Array. That would be the SETI Institute, which is a different SETI project run by a different team under different administration.

Can we just get our English sorted guys. My morals are fine, as indeed is my morale about this project!

Okay Sys 3 lab, we hear what you say and thank you for your input, but there are other ways to support Seti. For instance I have a green star, and I have donated not much, but what I could afford. A University research project is quite a different ball game when compared to a commercial enterprise.Don't drink water, that stuff rusts pipes!